The Architect’s Take: Architectural Planning

Architectural planning is often misunderstood as a preliminary step—something that happens quickly before “real design” begins. In reality, planning is the design process taking shape. It’s where ideas are tested against reality, where constraints become opportunities, and where the long-term success of a project is either set up—or quietly compromised.

At Catalyst, architectural planning is not a checkbox. It’s the framework that allows a project to move forward with clarity, confidence, and intention.

Architects Anthony Gengaro, and Seth Donnell

What Architectural Planning Really Means

Architectural planning sits at the intersection of vision and execution. It’s the phase where goals, site conditions, zoning regulations, program requirements, budget considerations, and timelines are all brought into the same conversation.

Good planning asks fundamental questions early:

• What is the project trying to achieve?

• What does the site allow—or resist?

• How will people move through and use the space?

• What regulations shape what can be built?

• How does today’s decision affect the project five, ten, or twenty years from now?

Without answering these questions upfront, even the most compelling design can unravel later in the process.

We’re contextual designers—meaning the site leads. We balance what the land allows with what the client imagines, and we test it all against zoning, code, and regulation. That’s feasibility: clarity before design begins. -Seth Donnell, AIA, NCARB

Planning as Risk Management—and Opportunity Mapping

One of the most important roles architectural planning plays is risk mitigation. Zoning constraints, jurisdictional requirements, utility access, site orientation, and infrastructure limitations don’t disappear once design begins—they surface later, often at a higher cost.

Catalyst approaches planning as a way to reduce surprises and increase leverage. By understanding the full set of parameters early, we’re able to:

• Identify red flags before they impact design or budget

• Align client expectations with real-world constraints

• Streamline permitting and approvals

• Make informed decisions about scope, phasing, and investment

At the same time, planning is where opportunities reveal themselves. A site’s orientation might unlock better daylighting. Zoning allowances might support density in unexpected ways. Existing conditions might be reused rather than replaced. Planning allows these advantages to be seen—and used—intentionally.

From Program to Place

Architectural planning is also where abstract ideas become spatial logic.

Clients often come to us with a list of needs: square footage, number of rooms, adjacencies, flexibility, growth potential. Planning translates those needs into relationships—how spaces connect, how they support daily use, and how they adapt over time.

At Catalyst, this process is collaborative. We don’t impose a formula; we ask questions, test scenarios, and refine the program until it reflects how the space will actually be used—not just how it looks on paper.

This is especially critical for projects that need to balance multiple priorities, such as:

• Residential projects navigating zoning and neighborhood context

• Commercial spaces balancing brand, workflow, and code compliance

• Development projects aligning design with long-term value and feasibility

Planning Across Scales and Project Types

Architectural planning looks different depending on the project—but the principles remain consistent. For homeowners, planning often focuses on livability, site constraints, and long-term flexibility. For business owners, it includes circulation, occupancy requirements, accessibility, and operational flow. For developers, planning layers in density, phasing, and return on investment.

Catalyst’s strength lies in understanding how these layers interact. We don’t separate design from planning or planning from execution. Instead, we treat architectural planning as the connective tissue that holds the entire process together.

Why Planning Is Where Trust Is Built

Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of architectural planning is its role in building trust.

When clients understand why certain decisions are made—why a setback matters, why a height limit exists, why a material choice affects cost—they become empowered participants in the process. Planning creates a shared language between architect and client, replacing guesswork with transparency.

That clarity carries through every phase that follows. Design moves faster. Decisions feel grounded. The project feels less reactive and more intentional.

The Catalyst Approach

At Catalyst, architectural planning is where we do our most important work. It’s how we help clients navigate complexity, make informed decisions, and move forward with confidence—whether the project is a custom home, a commercial space, or a larger development effort.

Good architecture doesn’t start with form. It starts with understanding. That understanding begins with thoughtful, disciplined architectural planning.